Bill allowing inmates to donate organs advances in Senate

SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that creates a process for inmates to sign up as organ donors while in correctional facilities is headed to the Utah Senate for final consideration.

On Wednesday, the Senate approved on second reading of HB26, which is sponsored by Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy. The bill was introduced at the request of inmates who wanted to be organ donors upon their deaths but were being rejected.

Nationwide, nearly 117,000 people are on the waiting list for organs, among them more than 25,000 in the Intermountain West.